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Revision History

Revision

Date

Comment

1.1

15-JUL-2015

Updated the Products Affected, Problems Symptoms, and How to Identify Hardware Levels Sections

1.0

28-APR-2014

Initial Public Release

Products Affected

Products Affected

15454-M-TNC-K9

15454-M-TNCE-K9

15454-M-TSC-K9

15454-M-TSCE-K9

15454-M-TNC-K9

15454-M-TNCE-K9

15454-M-TSC-K9

15454-M-TSCE-K9

Problem Description

The affected controller cards (listed in the Products Affected section) report one of these non-traffic affecting alarms:

DBOSYNC

BKUPMEMP

EQPT

AUTORESET

USB-WRITE-FAIL

Cisco recommends that you clear these alarms before you perform any software upgrade or side-switch.

Background

If the standby controller card experiences a File Descriptor issue and the DBOSYNC alarm is raised, the standby controller might become active due to the active controller that is in the process of a reset. In this situation, the new active controller cannot read the database on the card or the USB, which leaves only the default database.

Problem Symptoms

A File Descriptor is an abstract indicator that is used in order to access the files by the operating system that runs on the shelf controller. There are a set number of File Descriptors that are available for use by the operating system. The system software saves the database information periodically if there are changes to the system. If the save fails due to a lack of File Descriptors, then a BKUPMEMP alarm is declared. This occurs because of a bug that is fixed in the software Releases 9.605, 9.611, 9.81, 9.813, 10.01, and 10.102.

If this symptom occurs on the standby controller, in addition to BKUPMEMP, the EQPT is raised on standby controller and DBOSYNC alarms will also be raised on the system.

If this symptom occurs on the active controller, it declares the EQPT alarm and performs an autonomous reset in order to allow the standby shelf controller to take over as active. This action also causes an AUTORESET alarm. After the reset, the alarms are persistent and require manual intervention to clear. The file descriptors are also used to write the database to the USB device on the liquid crystal display (LCD) module in the M6 shelf. So the USB WRITE-FAIL alarm can also be raised in addition to previously mentioned alarms.

Workaround/Solution

A soft reset of the shelf controller with the File Descriptor issue clears the File Descriptor problem on the card. Because the BKUPMEMP and EQPT alarms are persistent, you must manually reseat the alarmed card or the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) must execute a remote action in order to clear these alarms on the standby shelf controller.

How To Identify Hardware Levels

This is a software issue. MSTP software Versions 9.2 through 10.0 are affected, including 9.608. Version 9.605 is not affected. The issue is fixed in 9.611, 9.813, and 10.302 and applies to the controller cards mentioned.

For More Information

If you require further assistance, or if you have any further questions regarding this field notice, please contact the Cisco Systems Technical Assistance Center (TAC) by one of the following methods: